Convertible piano-bench.



E. B. GREGOR.

CONVERTIBLE PIANO BENCH.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 21, 1914.

1 9 1 .15 1; 1 111.111 Patented Apr. 20, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

WITNESSES: f INVENTOR. W '45. fi/vfar'5. zmz'w ATTORNE Y.

THE NORRIS PETERS C0.. PhJTO-LITHQ, WASHINGTON. D. C.

E. B. GREGOR.

CONVERTIBLE PIANO BENCH.

APPUCATION HLED FEB. 21. 1914.

l 9 1 W6, 1 $3,, Patented Apr, 20, 1915.

2 SHEETB-SHEET 2.

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WITNESSES: 5, INVENTOK 51W 1:) 90%;)? 5. 6224 40)? 4 {M' z r B Y ATTORNEY.

THE NORRIS PETERS CO PHOTO-LITHQ, WASHINGTON, Dv Cv onion.

ERNEST B. GREGOR, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

CONVERTIBLE PIANO-BENCH.

memes.

Specification of Letters Eatent.

Patented Apr. 26 1915.

Application filed February 21, 1914.. Serial No. 820,115.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ERNEST B. Gnneon, a citizen of the United States, residing at Detroit, county of Wayne, State of Michigan, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Convertible Piano-Benches, and declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, such as vill enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to convertible piano benches, and its object is a bench adaptable for use either with a piano or a pneumatic piano player, the seat portion of which occupies a lower level position when arranged for use in playing a piano, and which is readily raised to a higher and inclined position when used with a piano player and in which the operative parts are hidden from view thus providing a convertible bench of neat and finished appearance in either possible position.

A further object is a simple and comparatively inexpensive bench quickly and easily adjusted for use in either position and that is practically automatic in operation requiring no adjustment of any part to convert the bench from one type to the other.

A further object is a bench of the character stated in which the interior of the bench is practically free from projecting parts, thus enabling it to be used for a receptacle for music.

Other novel features are involved in the means for supporting the seat-board upon the main frame when raised in position relative thereto, and preventing a tilting of the seat-board by the weight of an individual when the board is in use in such raised position.

These and further objects and novel features of the invention are hereinafter more fully described and claimed and shown in I the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of a portion of the bench when in its lowermost level position. Fig. 2 is a similar view of a p0rtion of the bench when in its raised position. Fi 3 is a detail showing the position of the latch member between the seat-board and main frame when the seat is in its lowermost level position. Fig. 4 is a similar view showing the position and relation of the latch-member when the seat-board is raised about the hinge points from the posii on shown in Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a similar View showing the position of parts when the seat-board is lowered about the hinge points from the position shown in Fig. i. Fig. 6 is a detail showing the relation of the latch-member when the seat-board is raised about the hinge points from the position shown in Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a portion of the'bench showing the interior thereof. Fig. 8 is a cross-section of the bench showing the means employed to sustain the seat-board on the main frame when the seat-board occupies its raised inclined position. Fig. 9 is a detail of one of the supporting members. Fig. 10 is an edge view of the other of the supporting members in its relation to the support therefor.

Similar characters refer to similar parts throughout the drawings and specification. As shown more particularly in Figs. 3 to 7 inclusive, the bench consists of a main box like body portion or frame 1 supported upon the legs 2, 2, etc., and an auxiliary portion or frame 3. The auxiliary frame is formed of a part 4: similar in outline and registering with. the upper edge of the main frame 1, and a depending portion 5 upon all sides thereof inclosing the main frame and in telescopic relation therewith. The seat-board 6 is hinged at 7 to the auxiliary frame. The auxiliary frame as may be seen in Fig. 7 is hinged to the main box like frame by lazy-tong hinges 8, of which there should be, at least, four, one in each end portion of the main frame, and two on the side to which the seat-board is hinged. Both ends of each member of each lazy-tong are slotted at 9 and the upper end of each memher is pinned to the auxiliary frame by the pins 10, 10 in the auxiliary frame, and the other end of each member is pinned to the main frame by the pins 11, 11, whereby if force be applied at any point to raise the auxiliary frame, the frame will rise upon all sides alike, the slots in the lazy-tong hinges enabling them to slide on the pins and thus be easily opened or closed.

Preferably near the center of the bench and secured to the seat-board or cover 6 is a plate 12 having a slot 13 therein lying at an angle to the seat-board, as shown in Figs. 3 to 6 inclusive. As shown in said figures a latch-member 14 is pivotally secured to the rear depending end of the plate 12 having a dog or pawl 15, and a tail portion 16 extending around the face of the pawl and spaced therefrom thus providing a scroll shaped slot between the pawl 15 and the part 16. Pivoted to the main frame 1 is a link 17 having a pin 18 in the opposite end thereof projecting into the slot 13, and of such length as to be engaged by the pawl 15 as hereinafter shown. A branch slot 19 is also formed in the member 12 at an angle to and opening into the slot 13, as shown clearly in Figs. 3 and 6. In order that the interior of the main box like frame may be free as possible of moving parts or parts projecting thereinto, the lazy-tong hinges are preferably positioned in a chamber 10 formed by slotting the meeting edges of the portion 4 of the auxiliary frame and the main frame as shown clearly in Figs. 7 and 8. The hinges are thus entirely inclosed and the box frame may be utilized to hold sheet music.

When the auxiliary frame is in its lowermost position and the seat-board level, as shown in Fig. 3, the link 17 and plate 12 fold together, the pin 18 riding to the upper end ofthe angularly positioned slot 13. If it be desired to convert the bench from the low level type of Fig. 1 to the style shown in Fig. 2, the seat-board is swung upward about its hinge points 7 as shown in Fig. 4. The link 17 and plate 12 will then unfold, the pin 18 drawing toward the lower end of the slot 13. In passingdown the slot from the position shown in Fig. 3, the tail 16 of the pawl will be forced downward away from the slot forcing the notched end 15 of the pawl over the slot 19 thus preventing the pin from engaging in the slot 19, and allowing it to pass farther downward in the slot 13. In so doing the pin also engages the bottom of the scroll-shaped slot in the pawl, drawing the notched end of the pawl across the slot 13, as shown in Fig. 4. Upon forcing the cover downward from the position shown in Fig. 4, the seat-board pivots on the pin 18, as it is held from moving upward in the slot 13 by the notched end which actually guides or draws it into the branch slot 19 as shown more clearly in Fig. 5. As the seat-board 6 pivots on this pin 18. the auxiliary frame is raised by reason of the hinged connection of the seat-board thereto, and the bench thus altered in height.

As shown more clearly in Figs. 7 to 10 inclusive, the forward longitudinal side of the main frame 1 is provided with legs or standards 20 pivoted to the main frame at 21. There are two of these legs near each end of the frame, and each is provided with a curved slot 22 in which a pin 23 engages, which pin is secured to the part 4 of the auxiliary frame; As may be seen in Fig. 9, when the auxiliary frame is in its lowermost position the upper end of the leg is positioned below and out of contact with the seat-board, and as the auxiliary frame is raised the leg is brought to an upright position, as shown by dotted lines in Figs. 8 and 9, with the upper end thereof extending somewhat above the upper edge of the auxiliary frame and engaged by the rear edge of the seat board when in the position shown in Fig. 5, and by dotted lines in Fig. 8, thus supporting that edge of the seat-board upon the main frame.

Secured to the rear side and at each end of the seat-board is a braced leg 24:, having a foot-portion 25 bent slightly to one side as shown more clearly in Fig. 10, thus being in alinement with a block or seat 26 secured to each end member of the main frame. Thus when the seat is in its lowermost position, the main part of the standard or leg 25 is to one side of, and out of contact with. the block 26, but when the parts are raised to their higher position and the seat-board inclined, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 8, the foot portion 25 engages on the upper surface of the block 26, thus providing a support for the hinged edge of the seat-board when in such position. Therefore, when the auxiliary frame is raised and the seatboard returned to inclined position thereon, the said seat-board is supported wholly upon the main frame thus relieving the auxiliary frame of its weight, and providing a strong and substantial structure in whatever position the parts are placed.

To lower the seat-board and auxiliary frame from the position shown in Fig. 5 to that shown in Fig. 3, the seat-board is raised from the position shown in Fig. 5, forcing the pin 18 farther downward into the branch slot 19, as shown in Fig. 6, and rotating the pawl slightly on its axis until. the hook part of the pawl no longer covers the slot 19, thus providing a free passageway for the pin from the slot 19 into the slot 13. In passing into the slot 13 from the position shown in Fig. 6, it is to be noted that the pin engages the tail 16 of the pawl member forcing it back to substantially th position shown in Fig. 3, as the pin passes up the slot 13, and thus returns the pawl to the position required to enable the seatboard to be changed from the low to the high position heretofore described. It is therefore to be seen that, by simply swinging the cover about the hinge points 7, the bench may be readily converted from one type into the other, either from the high to the low level position or from the lower to the higher position.

In order that the pawl may be prevented from swinging beyond the normal required position, the plate 12 is provided with lugs 31 and 32, and the pawl is provided with :1 lug 33 adapted to engage one or the other of the lugs 31 and 32, and hold the pawl from swinging beyond the required position, tlietwo possible extreme positions thereof being shown in Figs. 4 and 6.

Having thus briefly described my invention, its utility, and mode of operation, what ll claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is- 1. A piano bench comprising a main frame, an auxiliary frame in telescopic relation thernvith, lazy-tong hinges connecting the main and auxiliary frames, a seat-board forming a cover for the bench and hinged to the auxiliary frame, and means whereby the auxiliary frame may be raised or lowered by movement of the seat board about its hinged points.

2. A convertible piano bench comprising a main box like frame, an open auxiliary frame, lazy-tong hinges connecting the main and auxiliary frames, both of said frames being grooved forming a chamber to receive said hinges, a seat-board forming a cover for the bench hinged to the auxiliary frame, and means whereby the auxiliary frame may be raised or lowered by movement of the seat-board about its hinge points.

3. A convertible piano bench comprising a main box like frame, an auxiliary frame in telescopic relation therewith, extensible hinges connecting the main and auxiliary frames, a seat-board forming a cover for the bench and hinged to the auxiliary frame, means whereby the auxiliary frame may be raised or lowered by movement of the seatboard about its hinge points, standards pivotally secured to the front portion of the main frame adapted to be raised or lowered by corresponding movement of the auxiliary frame, legs secured to the hinged side of the seat-board, and seats for said legs on the main frame, the relation of said legs and seats being such that when the auxiliary frame is raised and the seat board returned to cover the bench the legs rest on the seats and are removed therefrom upon swinging the seat-board to lower the board and auxiliary frame.

l. A piano bench comprising a main box like frame, an auxiliary frame, extensible hinges connecting the main and auxiliary frames, a seat-board forming a cover for the bench and hinged to the auxiliary frame, a slotted plate attached to the seat-board, a link pivoted to the main frame having a pin engaging in the slot in the plate, and a latch-member pivoted to the plate adapted to engage the pin upon a raising of the seatboard whereby, as the seat-board is lowered about its hinge points, the latch-member and pin form a pivot about which the seat-board. swings to raise the auxiliary frame.

5. A piano bench comprising a main box like frame, an open auxiliary frame, lazytong hinges connecting the main and auxiliary frames, a seat-board forming a cover for the bench and hinged to the auxiliary frame, means whereby a swinging of the cover about its hinge points may raise or lower the auxiliary frame relative to the main frame, and standards brought to position and adapted to support the seat-board in an inclined position when the auxiliary frame is raised.

6. A convertible piano bench comprising a main box like frame, an open auxiliary frame in telescopic relation therewith, extensible hinges connecting the main and auxiliary frames, a seat-board forming a cover for the bench and hinged to the auxiliary frame, a plate secured to the seat-board having a Y shaped slot, a link pivoted to the main frame having a pin engaging in said slot, a latch-member pivoted to the plate having a scroll-shaped slot and a notched end adapted to engage about said pin, said notched end normally lying across one branch of the Y slot to guide the pin into the other branch as the seat-board is raised and adapted to be drawn into the path of movement of said pin as the pin completes its initial movement whereby said pin is guided into the branch Y and engaged by the notched end upon reverse movement of the seat-board, the arrangement of parts being such that a succeeding movement of the seatboard forces the pin to the lowermost point in said branch and swings the notched end out of the path of movement of the pin, and a succeeding movement of the seat-board forces the pin into the main part of the Y slot engaging an extension of the latch-memher and returning said member to normal position with the notched end across said branch slot.

7. In a convertible piano bench, a main box like frame, an open auxiliary frame, lazy-tong hinges connecting the said frames,

"a seat-board forming a cover for the bench and hinged to the auxiliary frame, and means operated by movement of the seatboard whereby the auxiliaryframe may be raised or lowered by swinging said seat board.

In testimony whereof, I sign this specification in the presence of two witnesses.

ERNEST B. GREGOR. Witnesses:

CHARLES E. WISNER, RICHARD ALSIAS.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing" the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G. 

